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It’s the most wonderful time of the year: A time when the promise of next year’s music still shines bright like a diamond, free of the crippling reality of weak lead singles, terrible cover art and devastating chart positions.
(Remember how excited we all were for The Spirit Indestructible this time last year? Eesh.)
There’s plenty of major albums coming our way in 2013 by both up-and-comers and veterans alike, so as I do yearly, I’ve put together a guide to some of the most titillating releases just on the horizon. This is the first installment–watch for the next round-up tomorrow.
I’ll be anticipating…
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Here is the list:
Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste (Debut Album)
What it is: The second coming of female rap.
Expected shelf date: February 12, 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Paul Epworth
What we know: Azealia’s curiously been everywhere and nowhere in 2012: From “Shady Love” with the Scissor Sisters, to the 1991 EP to Fantasea, Yung Rapunxel’s provided quite a few tastes of her liquorice-flavored rap styling and early ’90′s House beats. That being said, her debut’s been pushed back continuously since September, and although she’s been in the studio with heavy-hitters like Kanye West, Lady Gaga and M.I.A. in 2012, nothing’s surfaced from those sessions…yet, anyway.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Cleverly penned spitfire verses on top of inventive beats, replete with subculture nods (a la “Fierce”) and diverse musical influences–everything from Miami bass to moombahton–that’ll have the competition gagging.
Charli XCX, TBA (Debut Album)
What it is: The long awaited debut of a goth-pop LDN princess.
Expected shelf date: February 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Ariel Rechtshaid
What we know: Charli’s been kicking around as a Londontown club kid for years (since the days of getting discovered via MySpace, to be exact.) Last year, she release the majorly brilliant “Stay Away.” In 2012, she brought us the You’re The One EP, along with a handful of experimental fuzz-pop meets hip-hop mixtapes. In June, she promised MTV Hive that her upcoming debut would be a blend of “midnight beats and amazing melodies.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A smorgasbord of sound. Dark, downtempo synthesizers with an early ’90′s hip-hop swagger and an’80′s electro-pop sheen–something like Gwen Stefani meets The Weeknd meets Cocteau Twins.
MKS, TBA (Second Studio Album)
What it is: The return of the Origibabes.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Lucas Secon, Richard X, Richard “Biff” Stannard, Xenomania, Emeli Sandé, Shaznay Lewis, Cameron McVey, Naughty Boy, MNEK
What we know: It was the greatest comeback announcement this year: Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy–the original Sugababes–were reuniting to record an album together for the first time in 12 years. Though the music’s been substantially delayed (new music was promised back in June), the girls have assured fans via their personal social networks that the album’s coming. In August, Siobhan described the album as “everything that people want it to be, with some surprises” to PopJustice. And in Ponystep‘s F/W 2012 issue, Mutya promised that the new music was “a step up” from 2000′s One Touch.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: The original magic of the Sugababes’ soulful debut, bolstered by supreme 2012 pop production.
The Veronicas, Life on Mars (Third Studio Album)
What it is: The comeback by Australia’s leading sister act.
Expected shelf date: Early 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Lolita, “Dead Cool,” “Did You Miss Me?”, “Cold,” “Let Me Out,” “Mad Love,” Spirits and Sin”
Production by: Toby Gad, Nellee Hooper, Butch Vig
What we know: “Lolita” was a solid return to form for the Aussie duo, full of yelping hooks and explosive beat breakdowns. It didn’t quite connect in Australia (maxing out at a lukewarm #23 on the ARIA Charts) and, likely as a result, their album was pushed back for months. In the meantime, the girls have been previewing promising new tracks during live shows over the past two years. And with any luck, they’ll deliver a scorcher that puts them back on the map.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Jagged dance-rock anthems and bloodthirsty vengeance anthems, all crafted around killer pop hooks.
Sky Ferreira, I’m Not Alright (Debut Studio Album)
What it is: Indie-pop’s “It” girl finally finding her groove.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: “You’re Not The One,” “I’m Not Alright”
Production by: Ariel Rechtshaid, Jon Brion, Blake Mills
What we know: By now, we’re no strangers to the ongoing saga of Sky Ferreira’s long-stalled debut: In 2011, she serviced her bouncy burst of pop perfection, As If!. This year, she segued from electro-pop lolita to soulful chanteuse for her Ghost EP, an achingly honest collection of country-tinged wailers, personal confessionals and the greatest song of 2012, courtesy of Dev Hynes and Ariel Rechtshaid: “Everything is Embarrassing.” As recently as July, she told Complex that her album will now be called I’m Not Alright (previously Wild at Heart), named after her favorite song from the collection.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Anything. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again: Sky Ferreira doesn’t make bad music. Period.
The Saturdays, TBA (Fourth Studio Album)
What it is: A UK girl group’s attempt at breaking into America.
Expected shelf date: 2Q 2013.
Confirmed tracks: “30 Days,” “What About Us (feat. Sean Paul)”
Production by: Arkarna, Steve Mac, Darkchild
What we know: After releasing “30 Days” in the UK earlier in 2012, the girls spent three months in America, performing across the country, recording their new album and filming their upcoming E! series, Chasing The Saturdays. Along with their follow-up “What About Us (feat. Sean Paul)” due for release for early 2013, the girls have been putting the final touches on their new record with Darkchild, presumably for the purpose of pumping out US radio-friendly smashes.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Top-notch UK girl group pop mixed with a slight R&B-electro edge, enough to rule radio on both sides of the pond.
Hilary Duff, TBA (Fifth Studio Album)
What it is: A new beginning for a former Disney queen.
Expected shelf date: Late 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Mitch Allan, Matt Squire, Ali Tamposi, Jason Evigan
What we know: Following the birth of her son back in early 2012, Duff announced that she was planning to work on a follow-up to her incredible 2007 effort, Dignity. By July, she was already hitting the recording studio. She’s since revealed producers and writers along the way via Twitter, but as far as hints to any particular genre or sound, there’s still barely any real scoop.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Dignity Part Deux, complete with sass-filled, Kylie Minogue/Britney-lite electro-pop goodness.
Lady Gaga, ArtPop (Third Studio Album)
What it is: Gaga strikes back.
Expected shelf date: Spring 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Ratchet,” “Tea,” “Princess Die”
Production by: RedOne, DJ White Shadow, Fernando Garibay, Zedd, Madeon
What we know: It’s never wise to listen to Lady Gaga’s description of–well, anything–but she’s been talking up ArtPop for months (and yes, she’s already got it tattooed on her body): During a Born This Way Ball stop, she explained to the crowd that ArtPop demonstrates “a tremendous lack of maturity.” In August, she joked with Haus makeup artist Tara Savelo that she’s going for a “stoned Disney princess” vibe. She’s been hitting the mary jane hard, resulting in questionable cuts like “Cake,” her first foray into rap/trap music, and the Zedd-produced House love letter to weed, “Stache”. Along with collaborations with Azealia Banks (“Ratchet,” “Tea”), ArtPop is shaping up to be her most unhinged album yet.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A return to the blissful pop revelry of Fame/Fame Monster-era Gaga, with a focus on crafting iconic pop classics like “Bad Romance” rather than heavy-handed empowerment anthems/overly pretentious “pop art.”
Demi Lovato, TBA (Fourth Studio Album)
What it is: Demi’s transformation from teenybopper to full-fledged pop princess.
Expected shelf date: Early 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: None
What we know: After notching a Top 5 record last year with Unbroken, Demi utterly dominated US radio with “Give Your Heart A Break” in 2012. Back in April, she announced via Twitter that she was going back into the studio to record her next album. In October, she told Teen Vogue that she was “tired of all the dubstep” on radio and that she planned to record “something that people will listen to for a while, rather than something that’s just trendy,” name-dropping Adele as a source of inspiration. In the past few months, she’s hinted that the lead single could come as soon as December–conveniently timed with the X Factor finale.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Big balladry, Kelly Clarkson-esque rock-pop anthems and potentially some R&B-tinged sizzlers to boot.
Kylie Minogue, TBA (Twelfth Studio Album)
What it is: The next level of divinity from a true pop goddess.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Bonnie McKee, Greg Kurstin, Karen Poole
What we know: The prolific, pint-sized diva spent the entirety of her 2012 looking back and celebrating 25 years in the music industry with an orchestral greatest hits collection, an Anti-Tour and dozens of tiny treats for fans along the way. But behind the scenes, she’s been hard at work on her upcoming studio album, heading into the booth with brilliant pop scribes like Bonnie McKee, Greg Kurstin and Karen Poole. No word on the exact sound just yet (Kurstin and Poole both had a hand in crafting some killer X-era tracks), but Mizz Minogue told Metro back in February that it was “really exciting and different.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Forward-thinking disco-pop and lush electro-R&B balladry, all sung on sky-high stilettos.
PART 2 OF THE LIST:
Britney Spears, TBA (Eighth Studio Album)
What it is: It’s Britney, bitch.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Darkchild, Danja
What we know: Very little, as always. Speculation began to stir around the time of the X Factor premiere, especially as Britney’s Elle shoot found her posing inside of a recording studio. Was she preparing for Album #8? You heard the answer straight from the Holy Spearit herself, courtesy of my own hard-hitting, face-to-face MuuMuse Excluusive: “Not yet.” But she’s a little li-yah: During an episode of X Factor, we saw B sitting in a studio with Darkchild. In October, Danja confirmed that a reunion with Britney was coming. And just before Halloween, Britney had us spitting our Strawberry Frappes all over the screen when she casually suggested recording “Blackout 2.0.” We all hate ****in’ waiting, but the time is nigh–2013: Year Of The Spears. MuuMuse hopes to hear: The sound of pop being revolutionized yet again by the legendary Miss Britney Spears.
Ashlee Simpson, TBA (Fourth Studio Album)
What it is: A Simpson sister steps out from the shadows once again.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Bat With A Heart”
Production by: Linda Perry
What we know: Ashlee Simpson’s been mostly invisible (reference!) since 2008′s massively underrated Bittersweet World, but she’s been slowly tinkering behind-the-scenes. Back in 2010,she was telling Paper that her new record would be “folky,” but plans seems to have since shifted: She described the new album to Nylon as “a little soulful, a little electronic” back in July, and in September, she explained that there’s “definitely a dance element” to the new tunes. To kick off the campaign, she released the wonderfully broody first taste of new music on Halloween: “Bat For A Heart,” which, according to the song’s writer Linda Perry, is just a demo. Still, it’s a delicious taste of things to come.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Left-of-center synth-pop, with a side of grit.
Ciara, One Woman Army (Fifth Studio Album)
What it is: The make-or-break record.
Expected shelf date: Early 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Sorry,” Got Me Good,” “Sweat,” “One Woman Army,” “Livin’ It Up,” “Super Turnt Up”
Production by: Darkchild, Tricky Stewart, Hit-Boy The Underdogs, Jermaine Dupri, Soundz, Ali Tamposi, Livvi Franc
What we know: The oft-panned R&B-pop princess has endured her fair share of floppage over the past few years, including the tanking of her last studio album, (the unfortunately titled) Basic Instinct. After shifting over to Epic Records, she’s now L.A. Reid’s biggest bet for success in 2013. Despite what the hyperbolic press releases proclaim however, CiCi’s latest singles have fared no better than her 2011 campaign. Still, her album boasts production from an all-star roster of pop producers, and if/when the record drops (currently given the ominously vague release date of “Winter”), she may very well surprise us with one of the year’s most fun productions. I, for one, am rooting for her.
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Fresh, back-bend friendly beats and addictive melodies.
Lily Rose Cooper, TBA (Third Studio Album)
What it is: The much-needed comeback from MySpace’s greatest gem.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Greg Kurstin
What we know: After dropping 2009′s It’s Not Me, It’s You (which remains one of the greatest pop records this decade), the artist formerly known as Lily Allen announced a musical hiatus back in 2010. It didn’t last long: The outspoken songstress slowly began creeping back into the studio this year. In June, she tweeted that she had reunited with Greg Kurstin, just “throwing **** at the wall and seeing if anything sticks.” In August, she announced that she’d be releasing her new record under her married name, Lily Rose Cooper, and that she had “booked further studio time.” She told NME back in October that she wouldn’t release anything until it’s “amazing or, you know, good” and that there probably wouldn’t be any new music until next year. In the meantime, she appeared on P!nk‘s new record for a duet called “True Love.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Dagger-sharp lyricism atop bubbly synth-pop beats from one of the defining voices of our generation.
Kelly Rowland, Year of the Woman (Fourth Studio Album)
What it is: Destiny’s (other) Child making her mark.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Ice (feat. Lil Wayne)”
Production by: Rico Love, Sean Garrett, Darkchild, Diane Warren, The Runners, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
What we know: After dropping her steamy Lil Wayne collaboration “Ice” in August (which is more or less a carbon-copy of their 2011 collaboration “Motivation,” let’s be real), the former Destiny’s Child songstress is reportedly returning to her R&B roots. In October, K. Row announced the name of her new album on her website, and declared it “one of my greatest pieces of work.” She told Vegas Magazine that the album’s inspired by “classic rhythm and blues,” with inspiration from soulful icons like Whitney Houston and Marvin Gaye. And this time around, she’s got a solid concept in mind: “It’s for my ladies, oh, yes, and it is strong.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: Melodic, memorable anthems for strong, independent women.
Katy B, TBA (Second Studio Album)
What it is: An underground dance diva’s return to the floor.
Expected shelf date: Early 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Guy Chambers, Mark Ronson, Joker, Geenius, Magnetic Man
What we know: After releasing her debut On A Mission in April of 2011, it didn’t take UK grime/dubstep indie darling Katy B too long at all to head back to the studio. In June of this year, she told Daily Star that the new record is “still a dance album,” but revolves “less around repetitive beats,” and that the record would be about “womanhood, and finding out what my responsibilities are.” Just a few days ago, she quietly released her 4-track EP Danger, an eclectic dance set featuring an impressive suite of artists and producers, including Jessie Ware, Diplo, Iggy Azealia and Wiley. MuuMuse hopes to hear: Dance done outside of the box of dubstep breaks and half-step beat builds.
JoJo, TBA (Third Studio Album)
What it is: A pop powerhouse finally being set free.
Expected shelf date: Early 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Demonstrate”
Production by: Noah “40″ Shabib
What we know: It’s not coming off the list until it happens. Delayed since 2007 due to a crippling record deal with the unbelievably corrupt Blackground Records, JoJo’s long-awaited third studio album–formerly known as Jumping Trains–has been a long time coming (understatement of the century). In June, the talented singer-songstress told MTV News that she was heading in a “new direction” and starting over with the album. Halfway done at the time, she compared it to TLC‘s classic CrazySexyCool, and explained that she was developing the newer, more mature sound in the vein of her sexy icy-R&B flirtation, “Demonstrate.” She also said she’s been inspired by “’90′s music” lately, as well as the raunchiness of 50 Shades of Grey. MuuMuse hopes to hear: Sensual, next-level R&B from a grown ass woman who deserves to be a superstar.
Cher, TBA (Twenty Sixth Studio Album)
What it is: The return of an icon.
Expected shelf date: March 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Woman’s World,” “Collide,” “The Greatest Thing (feat. Lady Gaga)”
Production by: P!nk, Lady Gaga, Paul Oakenfold, Timbaland
What we know: It’s been well over a decade (!) since her last studio album (2001′s Living Proof,) but the prolific entertainer is back: After translating her tweets from Cher to English, we know she’s kept Little Monsters salivating at the promise of a long-delayed duet with Gaga for over a year (“The Greatest Thing”), recorded tracks penned by P!nk, and she’s even been in the studio with Timbaland. She’s described her upcoming LP as “Eclectic! Lots of dance, but none [are] SAME KIND OF DANCE ! Have Big ass Choruses,Some HEART RIPPERS.” Most recently, Cher caused a commotion last month with the premiere of her phenomenal Oakenfold-produced dance floor anthem, “Woman’s World.”
MuuMuse hopes to hear: A legend showing these 20-something pop tarts what a real pop record sounds like.
Queen of Hearts, TBA (Debut Studio Album)
What it is: A synth-pop up-and-comer gunning straight for pop royalty.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: “Freestyle,” “Neon,” “Tears In The Rain,” “Warrior”
Production by: Diamond Cut, Stefan Storms, John Myers
What we know: Rising UK songstress Queen of Hearts brought herself some major blog buzz in early 2012 with the release of the “Neon”/”Tears In The Rain” EP earlier this year, a cross somewhere between Kylie Minogue, Kleerup and Ladytron. She continued the brilliance this winter with the release of her latest single, “Warrior,” a truly masterful moment of twinkling electronica, ambient synthesizers and crystalline vocals. Most recently, she described the upcoming record’s sound to Idol Magazine as “tears on the dance floor.” Quite promising, indeed. MuuMuse hopes to hear: Something synth-y, sad and regal.
Beyonce, TBA (Fifth Studio Album)
What it is: The return of King Bey.
Expected shelf date: 2013
Confirmed tracks: None
Production by: Hit-Boy, Kanye West, Miguel
What we know: Beysus has been hiding out with Hit-Boy and Kanye West for the latter half of 2012, reportedly renting out entire studios and hiring major security teams to make sure no one’s heard a single peep. Most recently, R&B star Miguel posted an Instagram in the studio with Beyonce. And with the newly announced Superbowl Halftime show in the works, it’s only a matter of time before we hear the new tunes. MuuMuse hopes to hear: Forward-thinking R&B-infused club anthems a la B-Day? Throwback soul, a la 4? Lullabies to Blue Ivy? Speculation hardly matters: Whatever it is, it’s going to be big.
SOURCE:
http://www.muumuse.com/2012/12/muumu...part-one.html/
http://www.muumuse.com/2012/12/muumu...part-two.html/
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE LIST? IS ANYTHING MISSING?
